Zenéy van der Walt: “I Am Very Grateful for the Bronze Medal”

South African Zenéy van der Walt, was in tears after capturing bronze in the women’s 400m hurdles at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Van der Walt who started Athletics at the age of six years old said she instantly fell in love with the sport growing up.

The 22-year-old who ran in lane 6, set a personal best time of 54.47 seconds as she pushed through in the final stretch to snatch bronze for South Africa.

She wishes for more media coverage for women’s sport before an event so that the spectators can get to know the athletes, provide support for the athletes and watch the competitions.

She also thanked Athletics South Africa for all the support and help they have given her this year.

Speaking to Rudene Hare, van der Walt wishes for women to rise above their circumstances.

Zenéy, thank you for chatting to us here at gsport. Please give us a little background about yourself.

I am a fourth year student at Tuks. I study Bed education senior phase and FET. I love listening to music and cooking. I love animals.

How were you introduced to this sport?

I have been doing athletics since I was 6 years old and I instantly fell in love with the sport.

You are 22 and you have accomplished the following in your career: gold medals at the 2017 World U18 Championships and the 2018 World U20 Championships. In 2019, you won a silver medal at the Universiade and earlier this year you won gold at the African Athletics Champions with a time of 56.00 seconds. How do you manage to balance studies and be that good on the track?

Studying has kept my mind busy and it was not that difficult to manage both running and studying because the last 3 years everything was online and that helped me a lot while I was racing and competing.

You just returned from the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, but you didn’t return empty handed. You returned with a bronze. Can you tell us what went through your mind in that last stretch of the race to break an all Jamaican podium to finish in third place?

It was never my intention to break an all Jamaican podium, I went into the race with the mindset to give everything I have and to leave my heart on the track. I am very grateful for the bronze medal.

How would you compare the standard of training in South Africa and that which is available abroad?

I have never trained abroad so I cannot speak too much about it. All of my training and preparation is done in South Africa and everything and everyone I need is here. I don’t think it is necessary to train abroad when you have everything you need in your home country.

How is sponsorship important to you and other rising athletes competing at these competitions?

Sponsorships are very important, but it is just as important that the athlete is accountable towards those sponsors to ensure they get the needed support to perform. Accountability plays a big role in being successful and achieving your goals. I would like to take this opportunity to especially thank ASA for all their support and help they gave me this year.

Talk to us about the importance of media coverage for women in sport.

I feel media coverage is an important aspect to give sport’s women the necessary exposure. We get a lot of media coverage after the event, competition or race, but I think it would be nice to have a bit more media coverage before an event or competition, for people to get to know the athletes and to ensure that people come and support and watch the competitions live to create an atmosphere for the athletes. People need to know when events and competitions are so that they can come and enjoy it with the athletes.

Lastly, what do you wish for women’s sports going forward?

I would like to see women rise above their circumstances.

Photo 1 Caption: Zenéy van der Walt wishes to see “women rise above their circumstances” after winning bronze in the women’s 400mH final at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Photo: Supplied